Before its release, Don 2 faced copyright concerns. It was released on 25 December 2011 by Reliance Entertainment in 2D and 3D formats, which included dubbed versions in Tamil and Telugu. The film had a positive-to-mixed critical reception in India and a generally positive reception overseas. It has been praised for its action, direction and cinematography (exemplified by Shah Rukh Khan's performance), although its pace and music were criticised.[4]Don 2 was shown at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. The film received a number of awards, including two Filmfare Awards: Best Sound Design and Best Action. Don 2 ended up with a final gross collections of 2.06 billion (US$32 million) including all versions in 100 Days worldwide.[3]

The film opens five years after the ending of the first film, with Don (Shahrukh Khan) narrating the story. The European drug cartel bosses meet in the French Riviera to discuss a new threat emerging from Asia: Don is jeopardising their business by undercutting their prices, and the bosses decree that Don must die. Living in Thailand for the last five years, he goes to a remote settlement to pick up a shipment of cocaine. Instead of the expected uneventful transaction, Don fights his way out. He returns to Malaysia, surrendering to Roma (Priyanka Chopra) and Inspector Malik (Om Puri). Don is sentenced to death and sent to prison, where he meets old rival Vardhaan (Boman Irani). He offers Vardhan a partnership, and they escape from prison after poisoning the other inmates.

In Zurich Don meets trusted companion Ayesha (Lara Dutta), and they retrieve the contents of a locker accessible only by Vardhaan. In it is a tape of J.K. Diwan (Alyy Khan), vice-president of the Euro-printing DZB (Deutsche Zentral Bank), who was sent by Fabian Kohl to bribe Singhania (Rajesh Khattar) to kill a competitor. Don blackmails Diwan into giving him the bank's blueprints so he can steal the printing plates. Diwan misleads him and hires Jabbar (Nawab Shah), an assassin. Don escapes, however, and baits Jabbar to working for him. With no other choice, Diwan gives Don the blueprints.

Don and his team plan and execute a bank robbery, taking hostages. After stealing the printing plates he is betrayed by Vardhaan and Jabbar, but escapes. However, Sameer (a team member, played by Kunal Kapoor) calls the police and Don is arrested; he threatens Sameer for informing on him. Unable to enter the bank and free the hostages, the police are forced to work with Don in exchange for giving him German immunity.

Don and Roma reach Vardhaan and Jabbar, but Roma is shot when she refuses to kill him. She still has feelings for Don, although he killed her brother five years earlier. He defeats Vardhaan and his thugs, and Jabbar is killed. Don obtains his immunity papers, surrendering the plates and a disc with information about his team. He brings Roma to a waiting ambulance, and they exchange glances before the doors close. Don later detonates a bomb planted earlier in Diwan's car.

In a final scene Don still has one of the currency plates, which the police think was destroyed by the explosion. Sameer was actually loyal to Don; informing the police was part of the plan. The disc Don gave them actually contains the names of the European drug cartel; when they are arrested, Don becomes king of the European underworld and tells Ayesha and Sameer they have no idea how rich they will become. When Ayesha tells him she was afraid he would be caught, he says: "Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hai" ("It is not just hard to catch Don, it is impossible.") and the film ends with the song "Dushman Mera"

A drug lord and the narrator of the film. He has established his dominion over Asia, and sets his sights on organised crime in Europe. Khan reprised his role in the 2006 film, Don. In this film, unlike the first, he plays only one part.Khan excersied exstensivley for the role and performed almost all the stunts by himself.Don 2 marked Khan's return to playing villains after earlier films such as Darr and Baazigar.[5] It is the first sequel in Khan's two-decade-long career.[6]

Now an Interpol officer, Roma continues chasing Don to avenge the deaths of her brother Ramesh and his fiancée Kamini at his hands. Chopra learned martial arts, trained for over two months and wanted to perform her own stunts.[7]

The chief antagonist, Vardhaan was an underground criminal who disguised himself as a police officer named D'Silva. He is framed by Don, and arrested in the first film. In Don 2, he works with Don on the robbery but secretly seeks revenge. Irani lost 12 kg for the role and grew a beard to make his character look "cold, cunning and deceitful"; he felt that playing a villain was "a big stretch" for him as an actor.[8]

Don's trusted companion, she helps him in his plans to rob the German Central Bank. Dutta was cast after Koppikar, who played the role in Don, dropped out of the film. She was recommended to Akhtar by Khan, who had worked with her on Billu in 2009. In an interview with The Hindustan Times Dutta said it was exciting to play a new character, since there would be no predecessor to live up to.[9]

A computer hacker hired by Don for his bank robbery. It was reported that Kapoor was cast as a replacement for Arjun Rampal, who played Jasjeet in Don; however, the producers and Kapoor denied the reports.[10]

I am wary of sequels having to be made. You should not touch it if you don't have a nice story to tell. With Don 2 I could finally make an action thriller the way I wanted to. Good story, classic and simple plot which has one goal and work towards it effectively and dramatically"[11]

—Farhan Akhtar

A sequel to Don was in the works, as announced by Farhan Akhtar shortly after its release.[12] However, he had other commitments; Khan, recovering from shoulder surgery, signed for My Name Is Khan since that film required little physical exertion.[13] In February 2010, Akhtar said that the script and locations had been finalised.[14] The original cast would reprise their roles, except for Arjun Rampal and Ishaa Koppikar;[15]Lara Dutta and Kunal Kapoor were cast in new roles.[16] In an interview with DNA India Akhtar said that he decided to make a sequel to the 2006 remake of a 1970s classic because it "had a lot to offer" and freed him to explore the character of Don, who fascinated him.[11]

Don 2 marked Akhtar's return to directing after nearly five years; his previous film was Don. Anand Subaya was the main editor, and Ritesh Soni the musical director.[17] The digital intermediate and VFX of Don 2 were by Pixion Studios, and the 3D conversion by Reliance Mediaworks.[18]

The sequel had a different team of writers from Don, and included Akhtar, Ameet Mehta and Amrish Shah. Akhtar said, "The first film was my father's vision, but Don 2 is being written by fans only. These are yours truly and two new enthusiastic boys, Ameet and Amreesh, who came to me with their ideas on how the story can be carried forward. I've thrown my ideas at them. Don 2 is basically being written by three Don fans who are having a ball carrying the story forward."[19] Khan became the first celebrity to copyright a tattoo when he registered the "D" tattoo seen on his arm in the film.[20]

In August 2011, the producers said they would release Don 2 in 3D. The idea of 3D conversion occurred to Akhtar while shooting; after tests in Los Angeles, it was decided to convert the entire film.[21] The director of photography had used special lenses, which made conversion easier. Sidhwani said that the idea of converting the film into 3D came to him after seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Chuck Comisky, a veteran S-3D innovator who supervised 3D stereo and visual effects for Avatar and Sanctum, was given the job.[22]

Filming for Don 2 was expected to begin in April 2010, but was postponed until fall.[23] Principal photography began on 10 October in Berlin; it was the first Bollywood film shot in that city. The decision to shoot in Berlin was made after Khan attended the Berlin Film Festival for its screening of My Name is Khan and saw that the city provided the required realistic backdrop.[24][25] Before shooting began the German government announced the film on its website, promising support and co-operation during filming.[24] A 70-member Indian crew travelled to the city for two weeks of preparation for shooting. Scenes were filmed at the Brandenburg Gate, the Alexanderplatz, the The French Cathedral and the East Side Gallery.[26]

Khan experimented with a variety of looks and trained for the film, deciding to perform his own stunts.[27][28][29] In Berlin, he performed a dangerous 300-foot jump for a scene.[30] A car-chase scene using 67 cars closed main thoroughfares (including the Brandenburg Gate) for three weeks. Each day, alternate routes were provided around roads cordoned off for filming.[31] The shooting schedule also included a special appearance by Hrithik Roshan, whose presence was kept under wraps by filmmakers.[32] In December 2010, the Berlin shooting ended.[33][34]

In February 2011 the actors flew to Malaysia, where several scenes were shot in Malacca Prison with prisoners as extras. A section of the prison block was made available for filming, with special T-shirts distinguishing crew members from prisoners in the high-security zone.[35] Filming in Malaysia lasted for a month, ending on 20 March.

Khan became the only Indian actor to have filmed in Germany, a country known for refusing permits for foreign film shoots. A production executive said, "Unlike the US, UK and Thailand, it isn't easy to obtain permission to shoot in Germany. The rules are very strict ... Shahrukh Khan is so famous in Germany and that made a great difference to shoot Don 2 there." Sidhwani said, "We are the first Indian film which has managed to do that. There were certain pre-conditions that we were required to meet and we had to be very careful. Eventually they did open the doors for us. Once we were together on making the film, they proved to be extremely helpful."[36]

Khan trained with international stunt and fight director Wolfgang Stegemann, who has worked on a number of big-budget Hollywood films. Stegemann (who also played Karl, an antagonist) created a unique fighting style for the actor: "These are powerful and effective to knock off Don's enemies. I had to analyse Mr. Khan's motions and find the perfect fight style for him. It is a mix between martial arts, Krav Maga, Wing Chun and Trapping, which has not been practised in Bollywood. It helped him endure long settings of fights together."[37]

In September 2011, filming resumed on a song featuring the two leads.[38] Another song was shot with Khan in Goa in late November, only a month before the film's release.[39] This was a first-of-its-kind music video; instead of a choreographed song and dance, the filmmakers shot the song as an action sequence. The song, a promotional video, did not appear in the film.[40]

Don 2 '​s score and soundtrack were composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar; both also worked on Don. Director Farhan Akhtar announced that singer Usha Uthup would record a song, "Hai Ye Maya", for the film.[41] The album features nine tracks, including two remixes and two instrumentals. It received a mixed response, with some describing it as disappointingly safe, self-conscious and too similar to Don. However, most reviewers agreed that the music was true to the film's identity and genre and followed the narrative. The soundtrack was released on 17 November 2011, over a month before the film's release, by T-Series.[40]

The German government provided €3 million in incentives to the film's producers, since it was shot in Berlin. The German shoot cost €6.8 million.[25] It was the first time such large incentives were offered to a film shot in the country.[42] The distributors, Reliance Entertainment, bought the rights to Don 2 from Excel Entertainment for 850 million (US$13 million) and spent another 220 million (US$3.5 million) on prints and marketing.[6]Zee Network acquired the satellite rights for 370 million (US$5.8 million), the highest satellite price for a Reliance Entertainment film that year.[6] Distribution rights in Tamil Nadu and Kerala were bought by the newly formed Sudha Screen's Sreeraj for an undisclosed price.[43] Don 2 music rights were sold to T-series for 100 million (US$1.6 million).

The producers of Don 2 made extensive use of technology for its marketing, utilising Google and YouTube. Viewers could watch songs from the film in 3D (with 3D glasses) on their computers. The producers collaborated with McDonalds and Café Coffee Day in 20 cities to provide free Internet access with Wi-Fi in their stores.[47] The filmmakers also agreed with Microsoft India to launch a "Meet the Don: Mission Berlin" contest offering a chance to meet Khan and a trip to Berlin. To popularise the contest, Microsoft planned a marketing campaign which included a television commercial, radio advertisements and digital banners.[48]

Since Don's catchphrases in the first film became popular, Sidhwani and Akhtar decided to publicise dialogue from Don 2 by releasing 10 lines delivered by Don as "Don Says...": one line each Friday from 15 October until the film's release on 23 December. The lines were released simultaneously across all media platforms: television, print, radio, Internet and mobile.[49] The "Don says..." one-liners, also known as "Don-isms", became popular worldwide.[50]

The filmmakers also released a limited-edition toy version. The toy, Shahrukh Khan dressed as Don, is the first bobblehead of a Bollywood star.[51] The cast, director and producers embarked on a multi-city tour across India (including Patna) to promote the film.[52] Interrupted by security problems, the tour resumed from Nagpur to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and other cities.[53]

In October 2011 a comic book based on Don 2, Don: The Origin, was published in Mumbai. A prequel, it details Don's past. About the comic, Ritesh Sidhwani said: "Don 2 takes off from where Don: The Chase Begins Again left off. In these five years, many have forgotten the film and must be curious to know how Don came into being. This original story will help them understand him and also offer a background on other characters like Roma and Vardhaan."[22]

Excel Entertainment collaborated with India's largest video-game company, Gameshastra, on a console game. The firm developed a third-person action-adventure console game in which the player performs actions similar to Don's in the film.[54] A social game, Don – The Social Mobsters Game (developed by Mango Games), was launched on Facebook. It is available on Android and PSN for PlayStation 3 platforms. Sidhwani said, "This is the first time a game is based on an Indian film that will be launched on four platforms. For an iconic character like Don, I think this was the best way to keep the hysteria going amongst his fans."[54] A PlayStation 2 game, Don 2: The King is Back, was released in India in February 2013 as the final PAL game for PS2.

Don 2 was released worldwide 23 December 2011 on 3,105 screens in the domestic market, including 500 prints in 3D, and on 650 screens in 40 countries.[55][56] The dubbed versions in Telugu and Tamil were released with the Hindi version.[57] The second phase of the film's international release began in January 2012 in 84 countries.[58] In February 2012, Don 2 was shown at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival[59] and became the most popular film at the festival.[60]

Reliance Entertainment obtained a "John Doe" order from the Delhi High Court allowing it to serve cease-and-desist notices on film pirates. Anti-piracy chairman Rajkumar, speaking about the order, said: "We have already served notices to 43 ISPs, who we consider potential pirates. We have also alerted the cops and our team indigenously, but our primary intention is to halt menacing online piracy generating across shores."[61]

A month before Don 2 '​s release Nariman Films, producers of Don, sent a legal notice to Reliance and Excel Entertainment about the sequel. According to the notice, Nariman had given the rights to Excel Entertainment in perpetuity for Don alone.[62] The producers replied, "Whatever we have done is legal, so the claim is false and so are the charges. This is an absolutely new film and there is no question of a delay in releasing Don 2."[63] Khan added in an interview with Mumbai Mirror, "While my producers are best qualified to give a fitting reply to the whole matter, I as a lead actor can say that as for the sequel, the Amitabh BachchanDon never had a sequel. So where is the question of us copying anything. Farhan and his team have worked on the script, I know for a fact that we haven't copied from anywhere and this is an original script."[64] On 19 December, a week before Don 2 '​s release, the Bombay High Court refused to stay the film's release. The court's ruling considered the film's scheduled release on 21 December overseas and 23 December in India, for which many theatres had been booked.[65]

The Health Ministry advised the producers to have the lead character talk about the negative health consequences of smoking, demanding that smoking scenes in the film be scrolled down or blurred. Sidhwani and Javed Akhtar met Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni to resolve the matter, saying: "We all agree that smoking is a major health issue and there is no intention of glorifying it in the film. It is shown as a weakness or a trait of the character. We reasoned with them and they saw our point of view. So the film will only have a disclaimer in the beginning. No blurring of scenes or scrolls during the movie."[66]

Don 2 had a positive-to-mixed critical reception in India and a mixed reception overseas. The film was praised for its action, direction and cinematography (with Shahrukh Khan receiving accolades for his performance), but criticised for its pace and music.

Nikhat Kazmi of The Times of India gave Don 2 four out of five stars and said, "Don 2 is a classic action/crime thriller that doesn't let go, even for a moment."[67]Filmfare also gave the film four out of five stars, saying: "Had it not been for Shah Rukh's performance, the film would not have been half as good."[68] Omar Qureshi of Zoom gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising its action.[69]Komal Nahta also gave Don 2 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying "Don 2 is a winner all the way."[70]Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film 3.5 stars out of 5: "On the whole, Don 2 rides on star power and brand value. The film has a bland first hour, but the second half takes the film to another level."[71]Oneindia.in also gave it 3.5 stars, saying: "Don 2 is a perfect entertainment package for this Christmas."[72]Dainik Bhaskar gave Don 2 three out of five stars: "Don 2 is a perfect combination of style with substance. Definitely a one-time watch for one and all and treat for Shah Rukh Khan fans."[73]DNA India also gave the film three stars out of five, saying "Shah Rukh Khan makes Don 2 work."[74]Zee News gave it three out of five stars: "Don 2 belongs to Shah Rukh Khan."[75] Suparna Sharma of The Asian Age gave Don 2 three out of five stars, adding: "Don 2 is smart, urbane, grey and good looking. It is also entertaining, even impressive...Though the [film’s] story is borrowed from here and there, its tail end is clever and skewed towards creating a wicked but cool legend."[76]The Telegraph gave the film a positive review: "The man who makes Don 2 – despite its flaws – immensely watchable is the Badshah."[77] The Deccan Herald gave it a mixed review, saying: "Don 2 is all about Shah Rukh Khan and he does not disappoint his fans either. Watch it for Khan and his daring stunts, specially the leap from the 37th floor."[78]

NDTV gave Don 2 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising Khan as Don but saying that the overall pace of the film was a bit slow.[79]MiD DAY gave it three stars, saying that the plot was simple.[80] Aseem Chhabra of Rediff also praised Shahrukh's performance, but gave the film 2.5 stars: "Don 2 has no edge-of-the-seat moments."[81] Raja Sen of Rediff gave it 3.5 stars, saying: "Don 2 is a very impressively produced film but is let to good by over-the-top acting."[82]Yahoo! Movies gave Don 2 three out of five stars, saying: "The Badshah of bragging and the King of the hamming is the same person and he's out there in multiplexes waiting to con you off your money."[83]Rajeev Masand of CNN IBN gave the film two out of five stars, calling it "spectacularly boring": "Don 2 is nicely shot, and there are moments where Shah Rukh Khan is riveting. But that's not enough to hold your interest for well over two hours."[84]Khalid Mohamed of the Deccan Chronicle also gave it two stars, calling it yawn-inducing but adding: "Shah Rukh Khan handles all the acting pyrotechnics. He’s bankable in a film that isn’t."[85]Sify gave the 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying that the original Don was better.[86]Mayank Shekhar of the Hindustan Times gave the film three out of five stars, agreeing that the first Don was better.[87]

Divanee South Asian News gave Don 2 four stars, adding: "Take your family to this one. Heck, go by yourself, if you have to. Because ultimately, it’s a must-watch and a sign of how far Hindi cinema has come today."[88]The New York Times said, "If Mission: Impossible and Ocean’s Eleven had a bombastic, funny and slick cousin, it might be Don 2."[89]Digital Spy gave the film four out of five stars: "The film's dramatic conclusion is brilliantly executed ... Don 2 is a thoroughly exhilarating action-fest, fashioned in a Bollywood-style – and a shot of adrenaline amidst the usual elf-inspired festive film fare."[90] The Film Journal International rated it on a par with "the best mindless entertainments the American film industry can crank out", saying: "If Hollywood needed any further proof that its days as the world’s premier entertainment manufacturer may be numbered, it need look no further than Don 2."[91]The Express Tribune called Don 2 "a visual masterpiece", adding that "it sets a very high benchmark for future Indian action films. It proves that Bollywood has what it takes to go beyond half hearted action flicks ... after the success of the movie, the character of Don will be elevated to cult status in Indian pop culture".[92]Twitch gave the film a positive review and said, "Don 2 represents the push toward Indian cinema becoming global cinema, and it puts India's best foot forward."[93]The Georgia Straight also gave it a positive review: "Don 2 is a stylish action movie that seamlessly hits all the markers of this genre. With a tightly wound plot that plays out on a global stage, this slick production creates a spectacle of car chases, clever intrigue, and criminality."[94]Dawn gave Don 2 a warm review, calling it a slick, twisting thriller and concluding that Khan fell enjoyably between overacting and subdued madness.[95]The Los Angeles Times called Don 2 an "intermittently enjoyable movie" which was far removed from reality.[96]

On its first day, Don 2 had 80-percent occupancy levels throughout India. In multiplexes its occupancy level was 80–85 percent and 70–75 percent in single-screen theatres.[98] The film grossed 147 million (US$2.3 million) from its Hindi version,[99] in the process becoming the third-highest opening-day grossing Indian film (fourth-highest for the Hindi version)[100] and the highest opening-day grossing film on a non-holiday Friday.[101] The film increased its earnings by about 20–25 percent in high-end cinemas during its second and third days, aided by a sizeable increase in multiplex revenue.[102] Over the weekend, Don 2 grossed 470 million (US$7.4 million) from its Hindi version and another 15 million (US$240,000) from its Tamil and Telugu versions.[103] It held well the following week, collecting a total of 700 million (US$11 million) by the end of its first week.[104] During the film's second weekend, Don 2 grossed 145 million (US$2.3 million) from its Hindi version.[105] The film held well during its second week, declining 62 percent and collecting 270 million (US$4.2 million) from its Hindi version[106] and thus taking its two-week total to 970 million (US$15 million). The second-week total of Don 2 was the second-highest of 2011, after Ready. By the end of its theatrical run the Hindi version of Don 2 grossed 1.06 billion (US$17 million) in India and regional versions added a further 60 million for a grand total of 1.12 billion (US$18 million) including Tamil and Telugu,[107] making it the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2011.

Don 2 was released overseas in two phases, with most major markets covered in the first phase. The film set several records on its opening day. It grossed $550,000 from 164 theatres in the United States. In the United Kingdom Don 2 '​s revenue debuted in the top ten, earning $527,000 in three days from 76 theatres; in the Middle East, the film grossed $930,000 in two days. It broke the record for highest single-day revenue in Australia ($62,000), grossing $136,000 in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji during the first two days of its run.

The film grossed 16.9 million (US$270,000) during its first week in Pakistan, breaking all previous records.[108]Don 2 grossed 371 million (US$5.8 million) over the weekend, and 504 million (US$7.9 million) during its first week.[109][110] It set a record for the all-time biggest opening week for a Hindi film in North America, earning $2.64 million.[111] The film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film overseas in 2011. During the second phase of its release, which began in February 2012, Don 2 earned $112,027 in Germany and $5,041 in Austria.[112] It grossed $11.24 million on the overseas market and was the third highest-grossing Bollywood film overseas at that time, after My Name Is Khan and 3 Idiots.[112][113] It face stiff competition with Mission Impossible Ghost protocol in its initial weeks which in some started topped the box office. Satellite rights for Don 2 were sold to Zee TV for 370 million (US$5.8 million), and it was also released on the Zee Cinema HD channel.

About a sequel, Shahrukh Khan said: "It would be great to revisit Don after sometime. I’ve told Farhan that we could take 60 days out of our schedule and make a Don 3. But we need a script first, one that could take the last 10 minutes of Don 2 forward to another differently exciting thriller."[124] Farhan Akhtar also expressed a desire to take the story forward, and said he was fascinated by the character of Don. However, the filmmaker wanted to explore other genres without restriction and added that he was currently focusing on his acting career.[125] In August 2014, It is reported that Farhan Akhtar is planned to play a role in the film.[126]